. Name : Komodo Dragon . Kingdom : Animalia . Phylum : Chordata . Class : Reptilia . Order : Squamata . Suborder : Lacertilia . Family : Varanidae . Genus : Varanus
Habitat of the Komodo Dragon
The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis in Latin name) is a type of reptile which can be found in hot and dry places. Most Komodo dragons lives in an Island called the “ Komodo Island” which is an Island located in Indonesia. The Komdo island are home to large number and infact most of the population of the Komodo Dragon. Surrounding the “Komodo Island”, Komodo dragons can also be found in Rinca, Flores, Gili Montang and Padar. Normally, they live in grasslands which are large in area and are open. Komodo dragon also lives in places which has low elevations for example tropical forests. In Indonesia, there is also an park known as “Komodo National Park” which is also a home for a number of Komodo Dragons.
Figure 2 : Image of the Komodo Island Image Source : http://www.draconian.com/dragons/komodo-island.php
Figure 3 : Distribution of the Komodo Dragon Image Sorce : http://www.komododiscovery.com/images/Komodo_dragon_distribution.gif
Adaptations of the Komodo Dragon
Structural Adaptation 1
Unlike the Little Penguin, the Komodo dragon doesn't have any feathers around it's body. The Komodo dragon has a really long tail and that long tail helps the Komodo dragon to protect themselves or attack in order to survive. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adpatation is that the Komodo dragon may meet an enemy and so it can use it's long tail to protect themselves or use it to attack the enemy and if they win the attck or fight, they'll survive and live on.
Structural Adaptation 2 Just like Creodonts,the Komodo dragon has a pair of sharp claws and that pair of sharp claws helps the Komodo dragon to not just be able to attack other prey animals or enemies but to also catch prey animals in order to feed on it – the pair of sharp claws makes it easier for the Komodo dragon to catch prey animals. The pair of sharp claws it’s also a good use of defence as well for the Komodo dragon itself. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation is that when the Komodo dragon is feeling hugry, it can use it's pair of sharp claws to catch the prey animal and if they got into a fight, the Komodo dragon can also use it's own pair of sharp claws to defend and protect itself !
Diagram of the Structural adaptations of the Komodo Dragon Image Sorce : http://www.exploringnature.org/graphics/reptiles/komodo.jpg
Behavioural Adaptation 1 When the Komodo dragon is planning to attack a prey animal, it usually aims at knocking down the prey animal’s feet first then attack and bite on it in order to stop it from breathing. Then, the Komodo dragon will feed on that prey animal in order to survive. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation is that sometimes the Komodo dragon is aiming for an prey animal so it needs to have the ability to take control of the prey animal and the technique of aiming at knocking down the prey animal's feet first then attack the rest of the prey animal may help as sometimes if directly attack the prey animal, the prey animal may have the ability to resist and maybe even attack back on the Komodo dragon itself so therefore, if the feet is knocked down first, forcing the prey animal on the ground will decrease the prey animal's abiltiy to reist and attack back.
Behavioural Adaptation 2 The Komodo dragon uses their sharp claws to dig burrows as a shelter for themselves to avoid heat and hot weather in order to survive and continue living. An environmental pressure that could’ve given rise to this adaptations is that during summer, the wheather is really hot so therefore the Komodo dragon can use the hole that they’ve digged to avoid the heat and can keep themselves cool.
Physiological Adaptation of The Komodo Dragon Similar to the King Cobra, the Komodo is also venomous. The mouth of the Komodo dragon contains poisonous & toxic fluids ( venom ) and the contains poisonous & toxic fluids in the mouth makes it easier for the komodo dragon to catch prey as once the komodo dragon has bit the prey animal, the prey animal will be infected by the poisonous & toxic fluids in the komodo dragons mouth. That prey will then slowly die and then the Komodo dragon can feed on that prey animal. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation can be that when the Komodo Dragon needs to attack a prey animal in order to feed on it, it can bite on the prey animal and the prey animal will die from the poisonous venom from the Komodo dragon’s saliva. After, the Komodo dragon can then feed on it.
Future Animal : Watergon
THE KOMODO DRAGON
Scientific Classification
. Name : Komodo Dragon
. Kingdom : Animalia
. Phylum : Chordata
. Class : Reptilia
. Order : Squamata
. Suborder : Lacertilia
. Family : Varanidae
. Genus : Varanus
Habitat of the Komodo Dragon
The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis in Latin name) is a type of reptile which can be found in hot and dry places. Most Komodo dragons lives in an Island called the “ Komodo Island” which is an Island located in Indonesia. The Komdo island are home to large number and infact most of the population of the Komodo Dragon. Surrounding the “Komodo Island”, Komodo dragons can also be found in Rinca, Flores, Gili Montang and Padar. Normally, they live in grasslands which are large in area and are open. Komodo dragon also lives in places which has low elevations for example tropical forests. In Indonesia, there is also an park known as “Komodo National Park” which is also a home for a number of Komodo Dragons.
Adaptations of the Komodo Dragon
Structural Adaptation 1
Unlike the Little Penguin, the Komodo dragon doesn't have any feathers around it's body. The Komodo dragon has a really long tail and that long tail helps the Komodo dragon to protect themselves or attack in order to survive. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adpatation is that the Komodo dragon may meet an enemy and so it can use it's long tail to protect themselves or use it to attack the enemy and if they win the attck or fight, they'll survive and live on.
Structural Adaptation 2
Just like Creodonts,the Komodo dragon has a pair of sharp claws and that pair of sharp claws helps the Komodo dragon to not just be able to attack other prey animals or enemies but to also catch prey animals in order to feed on it – the pair of sharp claws makes it easier for the Komodo dragon to catch prey animals. The pair of sharp claws it’s also a good use of defence as well for the Komodo dragon itself. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation is that when the Komodo dragon is feeling hugry, it can use it's pair of sharp claws to catch the prey animal and if they got into a fight, the Komodo dragon can also use it's own pair of sharp claws to defend and protect itself !
Behavioural Adaptation 1
When the Komodo dragon is planning to attack a prey animal, it usually aims at knocking down the prey animal’s feet first then attack and bite on it in order to stop it from breathing. Then, the Komodo dragon will feed on that prey animal in order to survive. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation is that sometimes the Komodo dragon is aiming for an prey animal so it needs to have the ability to take control of the prey animal and the technique of aiming at knocking down the prey animal's feet first then attack the rest of the prey animal may help as sometimes if directly attack the prey animal, the prey animal may have the ability to resist and maybe even attack back on the Komodo dragon itself so therefore, if the feet is knocked down first, forcing the prey animal on the ground will decrease the prey animal's abiltiy to reist and attack back.
Behavioural Adaptation 2
The Komodo dragon uses their sharp claws to dig burrows as a shelter for themselves to avoid heat and hot weather in order to survive and continue living. An environmental pressure that could’ve given rise to this adaptations is that during summer, the wheather is really hot so therefore the Komodo dragon can use the hole that they’ve digged to avoid the heat and can keep themselves cool.
Physiological Adaptation of The Komodo Dragon
Similar to the King Cobra, the Komodo is also venomous. The mouth of the Komodo dragon contains poisonous & toxic fluids ( venom ) and the contains poisonous & toxic fluids in the mouth makes it easier for the komodo dragon to catch prey as once the komodo dragon has bit the prey animal, the prey animal will be infected by the poisonous & toxic fluids in the komodo dragons mouth. That prey will then slowly die and then the Komodo dragon can feed on that prey animal. An environmental pressure that could've given rise to this adaptation can be that when the Komodo Dragon needs to attack a prey animal in order to feed on it, it can bite on the prey animal and the prey animal will die from the poisonous venom from the Komodo dragon’s saliva. After, the Komodo dragon can then feed on it.
Bibliography
Webpages
Komodo dragon. (2010). Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragonNaik, Abhijit (2010) Komodo Dragon Habitat.
Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/komodo-dragon-habitat.html
Komodo Island. (2010), Retrieved June 26, 2010, from http://www.draconian.com/dragons/komodo-island.php
Smithsonian National Zoological Park. (n.d.) Reptiles & Amphibians. Retrieved July 25, 2010 from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Komododragon.cfm
Kapunahala Elementary School (2010) Predators and prey. Retrieved July 10, 2010 from
http://www.k12.hi.us/~kapunaha/student_projects/komodo/predators.htm